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More retailers have announced store closures in the face of lower in-store foot traffic and Covid-19 social distancing requirements.
Adairs (ASX: ADH) will temporarily close all of its Australian stores from close of trade on Sunday 29 March 2020.
This follows the group's decision to shut down its six Adairs stores in New Zealand on Tuesday in accordance with strict NZ Government requirements.
Stores in Australia and New Zealand will be closed for an initial period of four to six weeks and will reopen with the direction and advice from the Governments at that time.
As a result, 90 per cent of Adairs staff, or approximately 2,000 people, will be stood down, but will be given access to their leave entitlements.
Both Adaris and furniture brand Mocka will continue to operate online in Australia during this period.
"These store closures are a sad and very difficult time for our store teams and those who support them in our Customer Support Office," says Adairs CEO and managing director Mark Ronan.
"We are committed to our team returning to Adairs as soon as we believe it is safe to reopen our stores so that we can all go back to doing what we love delighting our amazing customers."
PAS Group brands suspend trade
Brands under the PAS Group (ASX: PGR) umbrella will suspend trade in physical stores to comply with the Federal Government's social distancing measures.
To ensure the safety of its staff PAS Group will shut down its approximately 230 bricks & mortar shops for its diverse portfolio of retail brands which includes Black Pepper, Review, and JETS Swimwear.
The company's Review concessions in Myer will remain open offering limited services.
"Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this unprecedented crisis which has already caused an untold level of despair and uncertainty to so many people and businesses," says PAS Group CEO Eric Morris.
"The actions announced today have been put in place to ensure that the health and wellbeing of our customers, employees and the community are prioritised above all else."
All employees affected by the store closures will be stood down, as well as a number of support office staff.
Updated at 11:28AM AEDT on 27 March 2020.
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